Hey guys! Just wanted to give you guys a bit of an update, and let you know I haven’t forgotten about you. Got a new laptop for Christmas (As well as a handmade quilt that will be shown off in a post from Sara.) so I’ve been writting and working furiously where I left off before my last computer blew up. Anyways, wanted to give you guys a sneak peak at something Sara and I have been working on the past few days. (Warning:Unedited work ahead. Read at your own risk.)

Chapter 16
Earl considered the woman tied to the chair before him. His demon stood behind her, telling him how to break her and make her give up the stash. Blood still covered her face where the demon ran its fingers. The demon removed its fingers from the woman, and Earl smiled as he saw the light of sanity enter her eyes. “Hello there. Do you know what you were doing an hour ago?”
She shook her head as if clearing cobwebs from it. “Darren and I, we were watching the news, getting ready to try this new drug Murphy gave him.” Earl could see her following her memories. The wheels turned traveling backwards through that night. Her eyes closed in pleasure as she smiled, remembering her first drink of a piss yellow liquid. “The stuff tasted disgusting, but the high was worth it. We felt like gods.” Her eyes grew wide and a fearful look came over her face. “We did terrible things to some hobo that came to the house asking for help. But it felt right, as if we were meant to do it. And then things turned for the worst.” She glared at Earl, her eyes growing hard. “Can we quit talking about this. I did something horrible. I don’t want to remember.”
“I want you to remember.” He replied, an evil glint entering his eyes. The demon told him to continue pressing her. “Darren was my friend. He may have ripped me off a couple times, but he still didn’t deserve what you did to him. I want the guilt to eat you. Now tell me, where are the drugs?”
“They’re all gone, man. We did them all.” she said, struggling against her restraints.
“Quit squirming.” Earl pressed his gun to her forehead, “And don’t lie to me. Where are the drugs? I only want the opiates, you can keep the other shit.” The woman cried out in fear as the metal of the barrel stabbed painfully into her scalp. “Tell me damnit or I’ll fucking kill you!”
“Alright, I’ll tell you, just don’t kill me.” The fear in her eyes showed her to be telling the truth. “Opiates are in the attic, hidden in the floorboards under the blue rug.”
Earl smiled, heading upstairs to claim his prize. He lifted the floorboards under the rug and realized he’d found the motherload. He was happy he’d found a car, because he was going to need it. Earl found a bag of pure white heroin and snorted a bump, just enough to take the edge off. He started moving the drugs right away, and within the hour his car was stuffed.
As Earl worked, the demon whispered instructions to him. On his last run, he stopped in Darren’s room long enough to remove the man’s head. He carried it downstairs and set it on the table to stare at the woman. “There, now you two can talk out your issues like a responsible couple.”
She started to jerk and spasm in her chair, trying to free herself. “Don’t do this to me, I didn’t do anything to you!”
“No, but you ate this man in a zombie apocalypse, and you’re not even infected.” Earl left the house as she screamed and cursed at him. He could still here her before he closed the door to the car.

Truth to tell, I really don’t even have time to post this….but I just couldn’t resist. I received my first free review from Reader’s Favorite. For those that don’t know, they offer a free review service for your books. It takes a few months if you’re poor like I am, but they offer you a free review, plus post the review to Barnes and Noble and Google Books if they are on it. All free of charge! Then they leave you a link that goes to your own personal author page with your reviews. Overall, I have to say I’m quite happy with the service and support they offered, and if I could afford it, I would use more of their systems to try them out. Anyways, the review follows. And remember to check out Reader’s Favorite if you’re looking for a professional review of your own!

Reviewed By Stephen Fisher for Readers’ FavoriteBreath of the Titans: Little BlackStormcloud by Riley A. Westbrook and Sara L. Westbrook is a story that centers around a half elf, half dragon boy who just turned 16, named Lovonian. The story begins with Lov and his uncle Nord taking their annual hunting trip. On their return toElvenhom, they find that the city’s populationhas been slaughtered by an army of Titans, except for those taken as slaves, when they seethe collection of ears thatwere chopped off. With Amon dead and his mother captured, Lov and Nord begin their quest to find his mother by seeking out Nord’s old friend Jaxon. After acquiring weapons and knowledge of their enemy, they set out to rescue Lov’s mother with the help of a fairy sent by Lov’s grandfather. From there, theyencounter all kinds of adventures and creatures, while in desperate pursuit.The Westbrooks combine their talents to bring a fantastic tale of heroes, magic and unique races of creatures, each with their own agendas adding to the mix of ordered chaos. All of the characters in Little Black Stormcloud are well developed, including their own unique prejudices towards other races. During their travels to different lands, it is that mixture of ingredients that brings out a sense of humor. Whenever the irritating forces attempt to impose their will, Nord says, “I hate dragons, fairies, and haflings!” Throw in a few surprises and “Voila!” One epic fantasy adventure that will leave you wanting more.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

So I took a few more online tests, curious as to why I came back with high rate in the psychopath test, and I think I might have self diagnosed the issue. According to these tests I suffer from narcissistic personality disorder with historonic personality disorder thrown in to boot. So my psychosis isn’t the typically violent and dismissive nonchalance of your stereotypical psychopath, but rather that of an egotistical, somewhat selfish, manipulator.

I want to argue against this self diagnosis, but a large part of me screams that it’s true. I worked for years in a psychiatric hospital, and know in my heart that psycopaths are anywhere and everywhere, but I doubted most people would label me that way. Then I asked Sara, and my last bit of self delusion disappeared. Now I know why I always felt comfortable on the wards. I was amongst my people.

I consider myself a young man. Being only thirty, I’m younger than Albert Einstein was when he came up with the theory of Relativity. But over the course of my lifetime I’ve seen dramatic changes in our society. Some for the good, some for the bad. I’ve seen regimes topple, watched as countries were shrouded in genocide, seen horrific civil wars. I’ve even watched the news show a man being beheaded.

However, there is one unsettling trend I’ve seen recently from young people. It’s one I even find myself being guilty of a thousand times and more. That’s the trend to hop into a car for a ride to a store two blocks away. Now understand, I am not attacking a personal right to be lazy. As a fat man I proudly say you should be as lazy as your health will take.

You see, Sara wanted to walk to the store for milk. She dressed, and walked to the store. As she walked out the door, a younger friend asked, “Why didn’t she ask for a ride?” Innocent enough statement, but one that made me think.

I remember a story my Mother once told me. It was the 60’s, and a cold snow storm passed through Seattle. My Nana wanted a six pack from the store. So she walked! She could’ve gotten a ride, but she chose to walk.

For some reason that began to change with my generation. We went from walking and riding bikes to driving everywhere! Even if it was only a half a mile to the store down the road. That to me is society’s most unsettling change.

There’s two last things I want to bring up, and that’s the bees and the elephants. Please take a moment to check out these sites.

We’re all busy, especially this time of the year. It seems we barely have enough time to pick up a book for a few minutes before we go to sleep each night, much less time to write a review once we’ve finished reading. Unless you’re an avid reader who is dedicated to keeping track of every book you’ve ever read, you probably don’t bother with reviews. Books gets hundreds of reviews, so yours doesn’t really matter, right?

Wrong!

Your review is essential. Unless an author is a famous best-seller, chances are their books could use a little love. A little attention. And YOUR review.

There are so many reasons why reviews are important. Reviews help other readers decide whether or not to purchase a book. They let an author know if they are resonating with readers, and what they’re doing right – or wrong. Reviews help a book get noticed…

So I was looking back over my posts, and I realized I haven’t updated you guys in awhile. Holidays are always hard for me. As a reforming foodie, I always seem to pack on the pounds this time of year. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep up my losing trend, but victory in that I didn’t gain!

Sorry for the long wait, nails had to grow back, wasn’t feeling too good.

I decided to do something different with my nails this game day. Went with a colorful multi-layered graphic design.

After cleaning and shaping nails, I applied two coats of blue first to nails. The blue used is L.A. Girl’s Magnetic Nail Polish. There’s no name for the color but there’s brand and type for ya. Very important to let your nails dry between each color. Used silver over the blue leaving space for a blue arch, had to use two coats of the silver. Silver used is L.A. Colors Color Craze nailpolish in Live. Making sure to leave a silver arch, I made a green shape with a nail polish that has no label. Noticing at this point that there’s room for more arches, I added a second silver arch, and finished up with blue. I especially like how the silver accents the bright green and dark blue.

Bracelets are the usual four paired with green jade and leaves,white frosted and green clear.

This is my wreath decorated for the season. I used a holographic silver tree tinsel garland, which was then weaved in a striped pattern into the wreath. I added six silver mirrored finish ornaments placing them in a symmetrical pattern. Added silver bows between the balls. Finishing touches, a snowflake made from silver bells and some stars. Hope you like. 🙂